Buffing or polishing machines



Dec. 29, 1964 J. B. SEWELL BUFFING OR POLISHING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Aug. 22, 1962 INVENTOR.

JOHN B. SEWELL If h umm

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mm on 1/ om mum Dec. 29, 1964 J. B. SEWELL BUF'FING OR POLISHINGMACHINES Filed Aug. 22, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR SJOHN B. SEWELLmmmmmm 3m 2m mwm 2 3m 3% Dec. 29, 1964 J. B. SEWELL 3,162,984

BUFFING OR POLISHING MACHINES Filed Aug. 22, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

JOHN B. SEWELL BYWW Dec. 29, 1964 J. B. SEWELL I BUFFING OR POLISHINGMACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 22, 1962 INVENTOR.

JOHN B. SEWELL Fig.7

United States Patent 3,1623842 Patented Dec. 29, 1964 Office Btnuustt; RPQLESHENG MACHINES, Jane B, sewelriiao Haymarregst Danae, Tex. FiledAug; 22,1962; seeNe, 215,745 12 Ciflifii; or.- 51:16

This invention relates to bufling or polishing machines and moreparticularly to an automatic bufiin'g or polishing machine for buffingor polishing the exterior surfaces of objects. 7

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved bufiingmachine for polishing external surfaces of an object by moving theobject to be polished sequentially past a pluralit Of butting wheels andchanging the attitude or positionof the object relative to each wheel tocause the several buffer wheels to polish different areas of theexternal surface of the object so that subst'aiitially all externalsurfaces of the object are polished by the machine. 7

Another object is to provide an automatic buffing machine having aplurality of individually mounted rotatable buffer wheels and havingmeans for. carrying the objects to be polished into engagement withsuccessive butter wheels spaced along the path of travel of the objectsand for changing the position of the object relative to each wheel tocause different external areas of the external surface of the object tobe polished sequentially by different buffer wheels wherebysubstantially the whole external surface of a three dimensional body maybe engaged by arid polished by the buffer wheels;

Still another object is to provide a bufl lng machine having acontinuous flexible member provided with cartiers for carrying the'o'bjects to be polished past buffer wheels spaced along the path oftravel of theobje'cts.

A further object is to provide a buffer machine wherein the carriershave adjusting means for varying the position of the bodies carriedthereby and wherein the machine is provided with means for actuating theadjusting means as the carriers are moved by the flexible means past thebuffer wheels to cause difierent areas of the external surface of thebody carried thereby to be engaged by successive buffer wheels.

A still further object is to provide a buffer machine wherein thecarriers having releasable securing or latch means for releasablysecuringthe objects to be polished thereto and wherein the machine isprovided with means for engaging the securing means to" free the objectsfor movement off the carriers and with means for moving or stripping thefreed objects oif the carriers upon the completion of the polishing ofthe objects.

Another object is to provide a buffing machine wherein the buffer wheelsare each rotatably mounted on individual mounting assemblies orcarriages which are piv otally movable to permit the buffer wheels tomove in the direction of travel and out of the path of travel of theobjects being polished thereby whereby the wheels are caused to engageprogressively different areas of the surface of the object as theobjects are moved therepast and move the buffer wheels out of the pathof their travel.

Still another object is to provide a b'ufiing machine provided withmeans for biasing the butter when use the path of travel of the objectto be polished.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention FIGURE 2 is a sideelevational view of the buffer machine; I

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of one of the object carriers of thebuffer machine;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the carrier;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating the means and the manner ofchanging the positions of the object carried by a carrier; .v

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view showing the means for stripping orremoving polished objects frbm the carriers; and,

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view showing the pivotal mounting of thecarriage of one of the buffer wheels of the buffer machine.

The buffer machine 20 inbludes a supporting structure 21 on which ismounted a continuous flexible member or chain 22 to which are connectedat spaced intervals therealong a plurality of the object carriers 24-for carrying the objects 0 to be polished successively into engagementwith and past the buffer wheels 25, 26 and 27. The buffer wheels arerotatably mounted on substantially identical carriages 3 921,, 3% and300 mounted for pivotal movement, about the longitudinal axes of theshafts 31a, 31b and 31c so that the butter wheels 25 and 26 are moveddownwardly and to the left and the buffer. wheel 27 is moved downwardlyand to the right upon being engaged by the objects, as seen in FIGURES 1and 2, to permit the movement of such objects past the buffer wheels andin order to cause the buffer wheels to come into engagement withprogressively different areas of the external surface of each object asthe object moves therepast whereby each buffer wheel may come intoengagement with and polish relatively large areas of the externalsurface of each object moved therepast by the chain 22,

The chain 22 is driven by a sprocket 35 rigidly secured to a shaft36rot'atably mounted on the pillow or journal blocks37 and 38 rigidlysecured to the longitudinal members 4i and 41, respectively, of theupper frame 42 of the supporting structure. The longitudinal framemembers are connected at their ends by the transverse members 43 and 44,respectively, to form the rectangular upper frame which is supported atits corners by the vertical columns 45. The'drive shaft 36 has a pulley46 rigidly secured thereto which is connected by a belt 47 to the pulley48 rigidly secured to the output shaft 49 of a speed reducingtransmission 4%. Suitable collars 50 rigidly secured at desiredpositions to the drive shaft by means of set screws 50a and engageablewith. the pillow block prevent longitudinal movement of the drive shaftand also provide for its longitudinal adjustment relative to the pillowblock. The speed reducing transmission is rigidly mounted in anysuitable manner as by bolts or the like on the intermediate transversemembers 51 and 52 of the upper rectangular frame 42. The input shaft 53of the speed reducing transmission 4% has a pulley 54 rigidly securedthereto connected to the pulley 55 of the drive shaft 56 of a suitableprime mover, such as the electric motor 57, by means of the belts 58 Themotor 5'7 is also" mounted in any suitable manner (as by belts or thelike) on the intermediate transverse members 51 and 52 of the upperrectangular frame 44.

The chain 22 also extends around the idler sprocket 6t rigidly securedto the shaft 62 rotatably mounted on the upper frame by means of thepillow or journal blocks 63 and 64. Each of the pillow or journal blocksis mounted on a pair of parallel longitudinally extending angle or slidemember 66 and 67 whose upper horizontal flanges extend toward oneanother. The slide members are held in spaced relationship by the endspacer and support blocks 68 and 69 which extend between the verticalparallel flanges or legs of the angle members and upon Whose uppersurfaces rest the inwardly extending horizontal flanges of the anglemembers. The spacer blocks are secured to the transverse intermediateframe member 72 which extends between and is secured to the longitudinalframe members 463 and 41 of the upper frame and to the end transversemember 44 thereof by means of the screws 74- and 75 which extend t oughsuitable apertures in the vertical legs of the slide members intosuitable threaded lateral bores of the spacer and support blocks 63 and69. The horizontally extending flanges or legs 75:: and '76 of thebrackets 77 and 73, respectively, are secured by any suitable means, asby the bolts 79, to the frame members 72 and 44, respectively. A screw86 extends between the vertical flanges of the slide members and throughsuitable aligned apertures of the spacer blocks and of the brackets andis held in any suitable manner therein for rotatable movement about itslongitudinal axis. The bolts 81 of the pillow blocks 63 and 64 extenddownwardly between the inner edges of the horizontal flanges of slidemembers 66 and 67 on which each rests to secure the pillow blocks totravelling blocks 82 through whose threaded bores the screws extend. Itwill be apparent that the tension on the chain may be varied by movingthe pillow blocks 63 and 64 on the slide members 66 and 67 to anydesired position by rotating the screws. The shaft 62 may be adjustedrelative to the pillow blocks by varying the position of the collars 84.

The carriage support shaft 31a, on which the carriage 313a of the bufferwheel 25 is pivoted, is rotatably mounted on a support plate 9% by meansof the pillow or journal blocks 91 and 92 rigidly secured to the plateby the usual bolts 94. The support plate d ll has its rear portionsresting on and secured to the longitudinal frame member 4% of the upperframe 42 and its forward portions resting on and secured to a horizontalbar or member 96 rigidly secured to the upper end of the verticalsupport columns 97 and 98.

The carriage 39a includes a lower plate 99 having a pair of bearingblocks rigidly secured to its lower surface by means of the bolts 101.The shaft 31a extends rotatably through the bearing blocks. A pair ofsleeves 1%2 are rigidly secured to the upper surface of the lowercarriage plate in any suitable manner, as by welding, and receive therods 104 which telescope into the sleeves and are rigidly securedtherein in any adjusted position by means of the set screws 195 threadedin suitable lateral bores of the sleeves. The upper carriage plate 107is rigidly secured to the upper ends of the rods 104 in any suitablemanner, as by welding. The buffer wheel is rigidly secured, in anysuitable manner, as by the nuts 110, to the shaft 112 rotatablysupported on the upper carriage plate in spaced parallel relationship tothe shaft 31a by means of the pillow or journal blocks 114 and 115rigidly secured to the upper carriage plate in any suitable manner, asby the bolts 117. The shaft is held in any longitudinally adjustedposition relative to the pillow blocks by the collars 118 rigidlysecured to the shaft by the set screw 119.

The carriage support shaft 31a is driven by the drive shaft 120 of anysuitable prime mover, such as the electric motor 121, by means of thebelts 123 which extend about the pulleys 124 and 125 rigidly secured tothe carriage support shaft 31a and the drive shaft 12%, respectively.The electric motor is mounted on a support plate 128 secured in anysuitable manner, as by welding, to the transverse frame members 129 and130 which extend between and are rigidly secured to the longitudinalframe members 44 and 4-1 of the upper frame 42. The motor may be securedto the support plate in any suitable manner, as by the bolts 133. Thebuifer wheel shaft 112 is connected to the carriage support shaft 3141by means of the belts 135 which extend about pulleys 137 and 138 rigidlysecured to the bulfer wheel shaft and the carriage support shaft,respectively. The tension of the pulley belts may of course be adjustedby adjusting the telescoping position of the rods ill-t in the sleeves192.

The carriage 30a is yieldingly biased toward the upright or verticleposition illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 by a tension spring 149 whoseupper hooked end extends through a suitable aperture of the uppercarriage plate 107 and whose lower hooked end extends through a suitableaperture in the upper end of the bracket 142 whose horizontal leg orfoot 143 is rigidly secured to the plate 96 in any suitable manner, asby the bolts 145, Pivotal movement of the carriage in a clockwisedirection about the longitudinal axis of the carriage support shaft 31ais limited by a shock absorber and stop 158 which may be of any suitabletype such as the usual door shock absorber and stop having a cylinder151 in which is slidable a piston whose rod 152 extends outwardly of thecylinder and into a sleeve 153 whose flattened free end is pivotallysecured, as at 154, to the bracket 155 secured to the support plate inany suitable manner as by welding. The closed end of the cylinder ispivotally secured as at 157 to the dependent bracket 158 of the uppercarriage plate. The spring 160 disposed about the sleeve 153 engages aflange ldtla of the sleeve and a stop member 161 on the rod toyieldingly limit outward movement of the rod from the sleeve.Telescoping movement of the piston into the sleeve is stopped by theengagement of the cylinder with the stop 162 of the piston rod. Escapeof air from the cylinder is controlled by the usual restricted orificeof the cylinder (not shown) between the closed end of the cylinder andthe piston whereby the entry of air into the cylinder is slowed down tocushion movement of the piston rod out of the cylinder.

It will now be apparent that counter-clockwise pivotal movement of thecarriage 36a about the longitudinal axis of the carriage support shaft31:; is yieldably resisted by the force exerted by the spring 140 andthat when the carriage is freed for pivotal movement from the lowerposition indicated in broken lines in FIGURE 2 to which it is moved bythe engagement of an object 0 carried by one of the carriers 24, theshock absorber and stop will slow down and limit such clockwise pivotalreturn movement of the carriage and also absorb or cushion the shockimparted thereto when its clockwise movement is arrested.

It will be apparent that the carriage 36b is substantially identical instructure and function to the carriage 3th: and accordingly elements ofthe carriage 38b have been provided with the same reference numerals, towhich the subscript b has been added, as the corresponding elements ofthe carriage 30a. The carriage support shaft 31b on which the carriage30b is pivotally mounted is connected to the drive shaft 165 of asuitable prime mover, such as the electric motor 166, by means of thepulley belts 12311 which extend about the pulleys 1241b and 125i;rigidly secured to the carriage support shaft and the drive shaft of themotor, respectively. The motor 165 is mounted on the motor support plate17%) secured to the base plate 172 of the supporting frame by means ofthe upright studs 173 which extend upwardly from the base plate wherebythe vertical position of the motor, and therefore the tension of thepulley belts 123i) may be ad justed by adjusting the positions of thenuts 174 threaded on the studs and located on opposite sides of themotor support plate 170.

The base plate 172 is disposed on the upper ends of the longitudinallyextending angle members 174 of the supporting structure which connectthe corner columns 45 of the supporting frame. If desired, suitableintermediate, transverse members extending between the longitudinallyextending angle members (not shown) may be provided to give addedsupport to the base plate 172. The base plate and other members of thesupporting frame or struc-. ture may be rigidly secured to one anotherin any suitable manner, as by Welding.

The pillow blocks 91!; and 92b which rotatably support;

the carriage support shaft 31b are mounted on the plate 180 whose rearportions rest upon and are rigidly secured to the forward longitudinalframe member 4i) of the upper frame 42 and whose forward portion restsupon and is rigidly secured to the column 184. The lower ends of thecolumns 97, 98 and 184 may be connected to one another by thelongitudinally extending angle member 185 and to the longitudinal anglemember 174 connecting the forward corner columns 45 by suitabletransverse members 18 6.

The carriage 30b is biased for pivotal movement in a clockwise directionabout the carriage support shaft 311) by the tension spring 1411b one ofwhose hooked ends may extend through a suitable aperture in the lowercarriage plate 9% and whose other hooked end may extend through asuitable aperture of a bracket 1421) secured in any suitable manner tothe support plate 180. Pivotal movement of the carriage 30b in aclockwise direction is limited by the, stop shock absorber and check 15%whose cylinder 15111 is pivotally connected as at 157 to a dependentbracket 1587: of the upper cam'ag'e plate 1117b. The free end of thesleeve 153b intowhich extends rod 15211 is pivotally connected as at154]) to the bracket 155'!) of the plate 180. p 7 I The carriage 3110 issubstantially identical in structure and function to the carriage30a"and accordingly the elements of the carriage 300 have been providedwith the same reference numerals, to which the subscript "0 has beenadded, as the corresponding elements of the carriage The support shaft310 of the carriage 300 is rotatably mounted by means of the pillowblocks 91c and 920 which are rigidly secured to the forwardly extendingextension 1l resting on and being rigidly secured, as by welding, to theforward longitudinal lower member 185 of the supporting structure; Thecarriage support shaft is driven by any suitable prime mover such as theelectric motor 192 mounted on the base plate 172 whose drive shaft 193is connected to the carriage support shaft 310 by means of the belts1230 which extend about the pulleys 19 4 and 1240 rigidly secured to thedrive shaft and to the carriage support shaft 31c, respectively. Thecarriage is biased for pivotal movement in a counter-clockwisedirection, as seen in FIGURE 2, about the longitudinal axis of thecarriage support shaft 310 by a tension spring 1 .110 whose lower hookedend extends through a suitable aperture of the bracket 1410 of the uppercarriage plate 1070 and whose lower hooked ends extend through asuitable aperture of the upright bracket1420 of the forward extension 1%of the base plate. Counter-clockwise pivotal movement of the carriage30a is limited by the shock absorber and stop 1500 whose cylinder 1510is pivotally secured in any suitable manner as at 1570 to the bracket1580 of the rower carriage plate 990 and whose sleeve 153C into whichthe rod 152s extends is pivotally secured at 1540 to the bracket 195rigidlysecured to the forward extension 190 of the base plate 172.

The electric starter or control switches 200 for the varions motors maybe mounted on a vertical mounting plate 201 rigidly secured, as bywelding, to the transverse end member 44 of the upper frame of thesupporting structure.

Each of the carriers for such objects 0 which are to be polished, as theT-shaped connector or fitting illustrated in FIGURES l, 2 and 4,includes a shaft 211 to which is rigidly secured a latch support memberor disk 212 by a set screw 214 threaded in a suitable bore of the latchdisk whose inner end extends into a suitable recess 215 of the carriershaft. A support member disk 217 is rotatably mounted on the reducedrear portion 218 of the carrier shaft and is secured thereon againstrearward displacement by means of the split retainer or lock ring 21hreceived in a suitable annular external recess 220 of the carrier shaft.Forward movement of the support disk 217 on the carrier shaft is limitedby its engagement with the 6 annular shoulder 221 of the shaft. Thesupport disk 217 is provided with a pair of rearwardly extendingthreaded bores 222 for receiving the belts or screws 223 which rigidlysecure the support disk 217 to the chain 22.

A latch 225 is pivotally secured to the latch disk 212 by a pivot pin orshaft 226 which extends through a suitable bore and across the radialslot 228 of the latch disk 212 and through a suitable aperture or borein the radially inwardly extending leg 229 of the latch. A spring 231whose opposite ends extend into the recesses 233 and 234 of the carriershaft and of the latch 225 biases the rear end portion or arm of thelatch 225 radially inwardly relative to the support disk 217 andtherefore toward entry into the radial oppositely disposed peripheralnotches or slots 238 and 239' of the sup ortdisk 217 to limit rotationof the latch disk 212, and therefore of'the carrier shaft 211, relativeto the support disk 217. The latch 225 may be provided with a springretainer pin 240 which extends into the recess 234 and into the coils ofthe spring 231. n

It will be apparent that if the latch 225 is pivoted in a clockwisemanner, as seen in FIGURE 4, to move its arm 235 out of the slot 239,the latch disk 212 and the carrier shaft 211 will be freed forrotational movement relative to the support disk 217 and if the forceexerted on the latch 225 holding it in its inoperative position isreleased once the rear portion of the latch is moved out of alignmentwith the radial peripheral slot 239, the arm 235' of the latch willengage the outer peripheral surface of the support disk 217 and willslide therealong until the arm 235 is aligned with the opposite radialperipheral slot 238 of the support disk 217 whereupon the force of thespring 231 will pivot the latch 225 and cause the arm 235 to enter intothe slot 238 thus stopping further rotational movement of the latch disk212 and the carrier shaft 211 relative to the support disk 217.

It will thus be apparent that the carrier shaft 211 and latch disk 212is rotated through 18 0 degrees each time the latch arm- 235 is movedout of one peripheral slot and allowed to engage the peripheral surfaceof the carrier slot 239 of the support disk as rotational movement ofthe carrier shaft 211 is continued until the latch arm 235 again engagesin the other radial slot 239.

A guide roller 242 is rotatably mounted on the carrier shaft 211intermediate the ends thereof and retained in position on the shaft bysuitable split retainer or lock rings 243 which are received in suitableannular external recesses of the carrier shaft 211. The roller 242 mayhave an inner annular member or race 244 and an outer member or face:245 with the usual ball bearings interposed therebetween to reduce thefriction therebetween as the outer race or roller member 245 rotatesabout the inner roller member or race 2 44.

The guide rollers 242' of the carriers movebetween' an upper pair ofspaced channel guide members 250 and 251 when the carriers are in theupper horizontal portion of their path of travel located between the twosprockets and move between a similar pair of lower support and guidechannel members 252 and 253 when the carriers in the lower horizontalportion of their path of travel located between the two sprockets. Thechannel guide members each have a web 254 and spaced parallel flanges256 and 257. As each carrier moves in the upper horizontal portion ofthe path of travel, the guide roller extends into the downwardly openinglongitudinal groove of the top guide member 250 defined by the parallelflanges and into the similar upwardly opening longitudinal groove of thebottom guide member. The carrier shaft 211 extends between thevertically spaced longitudinal edges of the flanges of these guidemembers and the peripheral surface of the outer member or race 245 ofthe roller 2 42 engages the inner surface of the web of the upperchannel member 250, which prevents upward movement of the carrier andthe chain as the object carried by the carrier engages the buifer wheels25 and 26 and in passing there- Y over is subjected to upwardly actingforces due to the action of the springs 14% and 14%.

The guide rollers 242 of each carrier during the movement of the carrierin the lower horizontal portion of the path of travel similarly extendsinto the downwardly opening longitudinal groove of the top guide member252 and into the upwardly opening longitudinal groove of the bottomguide member 253 whereby the peripheral surface of the outer member orrace 245 of the roller engages the internal surface of the web of thetop guide member to prevent upward movement of the carrier and chain dueto the upward force exerted on the object carried by the carrier bythebuffer wheel 2'7. The flanges of the two pairs of guide members betweenwhich the roller 242 moves serve to prevent lateral displacement ortilting of the'carrier and also serve to prevent any undue vibration ofthe carrier due to the engagement of the object carried thereby with therotating bufier wheels. It will thus be apparent that the guide membersserve to hold the carriers and the objects carried thereby in thedesired path of travel and into engagement with and past the bufferwheels.

The top guide member 259 is rigidly secured to the supporting structure21 of the machine by means of the horizontal angle members 253, 259 and2.69 which extend horizontally forwardly from the ends of the verticalangle members 261, 262'; and 263, respectively. The top guide member 256is secured to the forward ends of the horizontal angle members by screws264, or in any suitable manner. The horizontal angle members are securedto the upper ends of the vertical angle members in any suitable manner,as by welding. The lower end of the vertical angle member 261 rests uponand is rigidly secured to the plate 189, the lower end of the verticalangle member 252 rests upon and is rigidly secured to the longitudinalframe member 4a and the lower end of the vertical member 253 rests uponand is rigidly secured to the plate 9%. The vertical angle members maybe secured to the elements on which they rest in any suitable manner, asby welding.

The bottom guide member 251 is similarly supported by the forwardlyextending horizontal angle members 265, 266 and 267 whose rear ends arerigidly secured to the vertical angle members 261, 262 and 263 in anysuitable manner, as by welding. The lower guide members rest upon andare secured to the forward end portion of its horizontal angle membersin any suitable manner, as by the screws 268.

The top guide member 252 of the lower pair of guide members is connectedto the longitudinal frame member 40 by the forwardly extendinghorizontal angle members 269, 270 and 271 which may be secured to thelongitudinal frame member by welding and to the guide member by screws272.

The lower upwardly facing channel member 253 is similarly connected tothe supporting structure 21 by the forwardly extending horizontal anglemembers 273, 274 and 275 whose rear ends are rigidly secured as bywelding to'the lower ends of the vertical angle members 276, 277 and278, respectively, whose upper ends may be rigidly secured to thelongitudinal frame member at in any suitable Way, as by welding. Theforward ends of the horizontal angle members 273, 2'74 and 275 may besecured to the lower guide channel member 253 in any suitable manner, asby the screws 279. The upper and lower pairs of the channel guidemembers are thus held rigidly by the supporting structure and serve toguide movement of the carriers, and therefore of the objects, carriedthereby past the bufiing wheels and to hold the carriers againstdisplacement from'their path of travel due to the forces exerted thereonby the boiling wheels as the Wheels engage the objects carried by thecarriers due to the forces exerted on the carriage by the carriagebiasing springs.

The forward portion of the carrier shaft 211 has a longitudinallyextending recess 280 in which is mounted a lock lever 282 by means ofthe pivot pin or shaft 283 which extends through suitable aligned boresin the shaft and the lock lever. The forward end portion or forward arm285 of the lock lever extends into a longitudinal slot 286 of a loci;member or pin 287 slidably disposed in the transverse bore 283 of thecarrier shaft which is inter sected by the slot 28%. The forward arm ofthe lock lever 282 is pivotally connected to the lock pin 237 by a pinor shaft 29% which extends through a suitable elongate slot 2% in theforward arm of the lock lever and is secured in suitable bores of thelock pin 23'? so that the loci; pin 23? may be moved to retractedposition within the transverse bore 283 of the carrier shaft when thelock lever 2132 is pivoted in a clockwise manner as seen in FIGURE 4about its pivot pin 283 and will be moved outwardly of the bore 288 andof the carrier shaft to the position illustrated in l-lGURE 4 uponcounterclockwise pivotal movement of the lock lever 282. The lock lever282 is biased by a compression spring 292 for movement in acounterclockwise direction disposed in a lateral bore 2% of the carriershaft, intersected by the slot 289. One end of the spring breaks againstthe shoulder or surface 295 or" the shaft and its other end engages thesurface 2% of the rear arm 297 of the lock lever.

Each of the carriers 24 is designed to hold releasably the T-shapedconnectors or fittings 0 each of which has a tubular body portion 3%providing a longitudinal passage 3ll and a leg or extension 36?.extending perpendicularly outwardly from the mid-portion of the body andhaving a passage 305 which opens to the longitudinal passage 3tll. Theconnector also has an internal annular flange 306 to one side of thetransverse passage An intermediate reduced portion Eli of the carriershaft is adapted to extend into the longitudinal passage 361 of theT-connector 0 until its inward movement is stopped by the engagement ofthe annular shoulder 31E of the carrier shaft with the end shoulder orsurface 313 of the T-shaped connector. The lock pin 23'? is then alignedwith the transverse passage 3&5 and may move outwardly thereinto asillustrated in FIGURE 4 to hold the connector against longitudinal orrotational movement relative to the carrier shaft. The forward reducedend portion f ld of the carrier shaft is adapted to extend through therestricted passage or aperture provided by the internal flange 36% andthe engagement of the internal flange 366 with the forward end portion314 serves to further brace or secure the connector against movementrelative to the carrier shaft. Opposite end portions of the longitudinalbody portion 3th and an outer end portion of the leg 302 of theconnector may be threaded.

Each carrier is rotated degrees after it has moved past the buffer wheel25 and before it moves to the buffer wheel 25 to present a differentarea of the outer surface of the connector carried thereby to the bufferwheel 26 by means of the latch release and rotating assembly 319.

The latch disk 212 of each carrier has two sets of radially outwardlyextending rotating pins 32% and 332i. The pins 32%, 32llb and 326msequentially engage the stop pins 322a, 322i) and 322C mounted on anoperator lever 323 of the rotating assembly 319 The operator lever ispivotally secured at one end by means of the bolt 325 to the anglesupport member 326 which is rigidly se cured to the horizontal anglemember 259. The other end of the operator lever 323 is yieldingly biasedtoward the lower position illustrated in FTGURE 5 by the spring 323disposed about the bolt 32% which extends downwardly through a suitableaperture in the horizontal flange 33% of the support member 326 andthrough a suitable longitudinally extending slot in the laterallyoutwardly etxending arm 332 of the operator lever. The bolt 329 has anut 333 which limits movement of the arm 332 on the bolt. One end of thespring 32% abuts the spacer washers 334 interposed between thehorizontal flange 339 of the support member 326 and the spring 323. Thelower end of the spring 328 abuts the upper surface of the arm 332 ofthe operator lever 323. The assembly 319 also includes a cam plate 3Msecured to the vertical flange of the anglesuport member 326 by means ofthe bolt 325 and the bolt 3.41. These bolts extend through suitableelongate slots 343 and 3.45 of the cam plate .so that the cam plate maybe adjusted vertically and longi tudinally of the support member 3215properly to position the arcuate cam surface .346 of the cam .platetoengage and pivot the latch 225 of each carrier as it moves toward thebuffer wheel 26 .after having passed the butter wheel 25 so that its arm235 moves out of the slot 239 of the support plate just prior to theengagement of the rotating pin 320:; with the stop .pin 32-2ato free thelatch plate for rotation relative to the support plate before the pin320a engages the stop pin 322a;

Whenthe pin 32% engages the stop pin 322a as the carrier moves past theoperating lever, the latch plate is rotated in a counter clockwisemanner, as seen in FIG- URE 3, whereby the arm 235 of the latch 225 ismoved out of alignment with the slot 239 and,.as the latch moves out ofengagement with the cam surface 346 and pivots to engage the supportplate due to the action of the biasing spring 231, it engages the outerperipheral surface of the support plate and slides thereon as therotation of the latch plate relative to the support plate continues. Asthe rotating pin 320a begins to move out of engagement with the stop pin322a, the lower middle rotating pin 32Gb engages the stop pin 32% sothat the latch plate continues to rotate as the chain continues to movethe carrier past the operating lever and towards the buffer wheel 26. Asthe rotating pin 3253b begins to move out of engagement with'the stoppin 322b, the rotating pin 32tic engages the stop pin 322:: to cause thelatch plate to continue rotating relative to the support plate until thearm 235 of 'the latch moves into alignment with the slot 238 and entersthereinto stop further rotation of the latch plate. At this time theoperating lever is in the position illustrated in broken lines in FIGURE5. When the arm 235 of the latch enters into the slot 238 furtherrotation of the latch plate is arrested and the operated lever 323 nowpivots upwardly as required to permit sliding movement of the stop pin3220 relative to the rotating pin 3280 against the resistance offered bythe spring 328 until the rotating pin 3200 moves outor" engagement withthe pin 322a. It will be noted that due to the pivotal mounting of theoperating l ver 32.3 and the downwardbiasing thereof by the spring 328,the engagement of the arm 235 of the latch in the o 3 may t ke p ac pior o th diseng of the rotating pin 32tl-c with the stop pin 3226 sothat the rotation of the latch plate through a full l80degrees isassured.

T r at n Pi s 31 1a, 32 b an 2 ga a similar at e a nd o a i as emb y .50hich is idenfi n ruc u to he atch rele se nd rotatin semly 319 to causeeach carrier to be rotated another 180 qesrce i a s hnte -hlq wise dirct c a te it h s moved out of engagement with the buffer wheel 27 inorder to move the carrier back to its original position relative to theppo pla after ea a ie a m ed pas an u of engagement with the bufferwheel 27. Since the two assemblies are identical in structure, theelements of the c n a s m l ha e bas P o ded W t e same re renc nume a ohich the su script ha bee added, as the corresponding elements of theassembly 31 9. The angle support member 32651 of the assembly 356 isrigidly secured to the horizontal angle member 35; whose rear end iswelded to the longitudinal member 49.

Aca m rod 352 is provided to engage arm 282g of the k lever a pi t nw rly nt the sl 289 to use the kick p n .87 20 h 10 l o re ert d osi n anhu t the connec r Qarri d by each a r er fo hm r tr in th e rom, h low rnd o he cam rod is rigidly secured to an angle member 353 in any s tab emanne as by w d ngh u pe d of t e cam .rod is secured to the upper endof .a post 35.4- whose .1 lower end is rigidly secured to the anglemember 353 in any suitable manner, as-by welding. The lock lever ofveach carrier engages the cam rod and is actuated thereby prior to theengagement of the end shoulder 313 of the connector carrier thereby withthe vertical stripper plate 355 whichis pivotally secured to thesupportmember 33 by the bolt 356. The vertical stripperplate isbiasedtoward the position illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 6 by .means of ahorizontal bar 35:7 whieh overlies the upper edge of the verticalstripper plate 355 and whose outer end portion is .seeured to the outerend of the vertical stripper plate by any suitable means, .such as alock ring 3158 whichextends through suitable apertures or .slots in thesupport bar and the stripper plate whichpermits some movement betweenthe stripper plate and the bar. The other end of the bar is pivotallymounted on the angle member 353 by means of the pin 360 which extendsthrough a suitable elongate slot 361 in the bar and which is secured tothe angle member 353 by meansof the nut 353. The bar restsuponthehorizonta-lfiange of the angle member and is biased downwardly towardthe horizontal position illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 6 by the spring 365disposed about the pin. The lower end of the spring bears against thesupport spacer nuts 366a slidably mounted .on the pin and its upper endbears against the washer 366 disposed on the pin and held against upwardmovement thereon by its engagement with the head 367 of the bolt.

The stripper plate has an upwardly curved lower edge 375 which isadapted to engage the carrier shaft inwardly of the shoulder 313 of aconnector carried thereby and curves forwardly past the outer end of theshaft of each carrier so that as the upward movement of each carrierabout the sprocket continues the stripper plate engages the shoulder3113 of the body and moves it forwar ly and oil the end of the shaft ofthe carrier. Such movement of the connector is now possible since thelock lever is now in its depressed or ino erative position in the 'slot28% of the carrier shaft.

The pivotal mounting of the support plate 3-57 permits upward pivotalmovement of the vertical stripper plate as required by its engagementwith the carrier shaft until each carrier shaft moves past the stripperplate which is then returned to its normal position due to the action ofthe spring 365.

The lock lever is held by the cam rod in its inoperative position overthe path of travel indicated by the letters 'A A so that after oneconnector has been stripped off the carrier and allowed to fall in asuitable receptacle disposed below the stripper plate 355, anotherconnector which is to be polished may be placed in position on thecarrier shaft, As the movement of each carrier continues after the newconnector has been placed on its shaft of the carrier, the lock pin 287thereof will move into the lateral bore 305 thereof to lock it to theshaft as the latch lever of such carrier is moved out of engagement withthe cam rod as the movement of the carrier continues. The operatorplacing the connectors on the shaft of each carrier may of course rotatethe connector on the shaft to position the lock pin in eraot alignmentwith the lock pin 305 after the lock lever has moved out of engagementwith the cam rod to cause the locking of the connector on the carriershaft in the event he has not positioned it in correct alignment on theshaft prior to the release of the lock le er.

*In use, the drive motors of the buffer Wheels are energized as is thedrive motor of the chain. A the chain is moved in its path of movementby the sprocket 35, the operator places' a connector on the shaft ofeach carrior as the carrier moves past the cam rod which moves the latchlever in its retracted inoperative position so that h o s tq need no hms lf d ress he l c e A the arrier .is IlQ l upwar ly, h am 2.97 f its ak lever moves 01 of engagement with the cam rod and the force of thespring 292 pivots the lock lever and moves 1 l the pin 287 into thelateral bore 3% to lock the connector to the carrier shaft. The operatormay rotate the coninector slightly to place the bore 335 of theconnector into alignment with the pin 287 once the lock lever 282 hasbeen freed to move to its operative position if he has not initiallycorrectly aligned the connector and the cartrier shaft. The connector ithen moved by the carrier into engagement with the buffer wheel 25 whichengages one side of the body portion and of the leg or extension 302which extend vertically upwardly from the body :portion. The bulferwheel first engages and polishes a side area of the connector. As thecarrier continues to move such connector in the upper horizontal portionof the path of its movement, the carriage 30a of the buffer wheel 25pivots in a counter-clockwise manner about the shaft 31a against theforce exerted by the spring 146 permitting the bufier Wheel to move tothe left and downward, as seen in FIGURE 2, and thus to engage lower ordownwardly facing surfaces of the body portion 300 of the connector.When the connector moves past the buffer wheel 25 and out of engagementtherewith, the spring 140 is effective to move the carriage back to itsoriginal upright position so that it may engage the conector carried bythe next carrier.

The carriage and the connector then move past the latch release androtating assembly 319 which causes the latch plate 212 and the shaft 211of the carrier to rotate through 180 degrees to cause the leg orextension 302 to extend vertically downwardly so that it will movebetween the sections 26a and 26b of the butter wheel so that oppositerearwardly and forwardly facing areas or surfaces of the leg orextension are polished as well as the now downwardly facing surfaces ofthe tubular body portion 30% of the connector disposed on opposite sidesof the leg or extension 3%2. The buffer wheel 26 of course also moves tothe left and downwardly due to its engagement with the connector as itis moved therepast so that it comes into engagement and polishes largeareas of the connector as it moves therepast. The buffer wheel and itscarriage are moved back into the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 by thespring 14Gb when the connector is moved out of engagement with thebuffer wheel. The connector is then carried downwardly and about thesprocket 35 and enters into the lower horizontal portion of its path oftravel wherein the side surfaces of the connector opposite to thesidesurface engaged and polished by the wheel 25 engage the buffer wheel 27,which then is moved downwardly and to the right as the connector ismoved therepast, the spring 140s moving the buffer wheel 27 and itscarriage 300 back to its vertical position when the connector is movedout of engagement with the buffer wheel.

The carrier then moves past the latch release and rotating assembly 359which rotates the latch plate 212 and shaft 211 of the carrier throughanother 180 degrees to its original position relative to the supportplate of the carrier so that in the event of some malfunction of thestripping plate 355 and its failure to remove the connector from suchcarrier, the carrier will again move in the same attitude or positionrelative to each buffer wheel. It will be apparent that if the leg orextension 302 were in its lower vertical position as it moved past thewheels 25 and 27 which do not have spaced sections, the leg would tendto tear or cause undue wear of these buffer wheels.

The carrier then moves past the cam rod and the stripper plate whichfree the connector for removal from the carrier shaft and then move orstrip the connector from the carrier so that another connector may besecured to the carrier. The above sequence of operations may besequentially repeated as each carrier moves continually about the pathof travel defined by the two sprockets.

It will now be seen that the butting machine illustrated and describedincludes a flexible member or chain 22 which extends about the spaceddrive and idler sprockts 35 and 60 whereby the carriers 24 secured tothe chain at spaced locations along the length thereof move successivelypast the three buffer wheels 25, 26 and 27 so that the objects, such asthe connector 0, carried by the carriers have diiferent areas of theirexternal surfaces engaged and polished by the buffer wheels disposed inlocations to engage the objects carried by the carriers while thecarriers are in the upper or lower portion of their travel.

It will further be seen that the rollers 242 engage the two pairs ofchannel guide members to hold the carriers against undesired movementand vibration as the connectors carried thereby are engaged by thebuffer wheels.

It will further be seen that the bufiing machine and the carrier havecoengageable means for rotating the carrier after the object carriedthereby has been moved past one buffer wheel prior to it movement intoengagement with the next buffer wheel.

It will also be apparent that the attitude or position of the connectoror object carried by each carrier is changed relative to the bufferwheel in the lower portion of the path of the movement of the object ascompared with its attitude towards the immediately preceding butterwheel disposed in the upper horizontal portion of its path of movementdue to the movement of the carrier about the semi-circular end portionof its path of movement.

It will further be seen that the boiling machine and the carrier haveco-engageable means for unlocking the object from each carrier andautomatically removing or stripping each polished object off eachcarrier upon the completion of the polishing operation thereof.

It will further be seen that each of the buffer wheels is mounted on apivotally mounted carriage so that the position of each buffer wheel isrelative to each object to be polished thereby is varied as each suchobject moves therepast whereby each buffer wheel polishes a relativelylarge area of the external surface of each object.

It will also be seen that while the carriages 24 are designed to carry aparticular object, the locking means of the carrier may be modified orrequired to engage and hold any other object which is to be carried bythe carriers past the buffer wheels.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, andchanges in the details of the construction illustrated may be made bythose skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A bufing machine including: means for carrying objects to be polishedin a predetermined path; a plurality of buffer means disposed in spacedrelationship along said predetermined path and engageable with objectscarried by said carrying means, each of said buffer means being mountedfor rotation about a first axis perpendicular to the path of movement ofobjects moved therepast by said carrying means and for movement out ofpredetermined path about a second axis spaced from and parallel to saidfirst axis; means biasing said buffer means against movement about saidsecond axis out of said path of movement; and means cooperable with saidcarrying means for varying the attitude of each object at predeterminedlocations along said predetermined path for causing different areas ofsaid objects to be engaged and polished by different ones of said buffermeans, each object being held against movement relative to said carryingmeans during its engagement with each of said bufier means.

2. A bufiing machine including: means for carrying objects to bepolished in a predetermined path; a plurality of buffer means disposedin spaced relationship along said predetermined path and engageable withobjects carried by said carrying means, each of said buffer means beingmounted for movement out of said predetermined path when engaged andmoved by an object carried by said carrying means whereby each buffermeans engages and polishes large areas of the external surface of suchobject; means biasing said butler means against movement out of saidpath of movement; and means cooperable with said carrying means forvarying the attitude of each object at predetermined locations alongsaid predetermined path for causing different areas of said objects tobe engaged and polished by different ones of said butler means, eachobject being held against movement relative to said carrying meansduring its engagement with each of said buffer means.

3. A butter machine including: a pair of spaced sprockets rotatableabout parallel horizontally disposed axes; means for rotating one ofsaid sprockets; a continuous chain extending about said sprockets andmovable by said one of said sprockets in a predetermined path having anupper linear portion and a lower linear portion; a plurality of spacedobject carriers secured to said chain and extending laterallyperpendicularly therefrom; a pair of buffer wheels disposed in spacedrelationship along and spaced from said upper portion and in the path ofmovement of objects carried by said carriers; a buffer wheel mounted inspaced relationship from said lower portion and in the path of movementof objects carried by said carriers, said bufier wheels being rotatableabout axes parallel to said axes of said sprockets; drive means forrotating said butter wheels; means supporting each of said buffer wheelsfor limited movement about an axis parallel to and spaced from its axisof rotation in the direction of movement of the carriers moved therepastby said chain whereby each of said buffer wheels is movable out of thepath or" movement of object carried by each carrier; and means biasingeach of said wheels against movement out of the path of movement ofobjects being carried therepast by said carriers.

4. A buffer machine including: a pair of spaced sprockets rotatableabout parallel horizontally disposed axes; means for rotating one ofsaid sprockets; a continuous chain extending about said sprockets andmovable by said one of said sprockets in a predetermined path having anupper linear portion and a lower linear portion; a plurality of spacedobject carriers secured to said chain and extending laterallyperpendicularly therefrom; a pair of bufier wheels disposed in spacedrelationship along and spaced from said upper portion and. in the pathof movement of objects carried by said carriers; 21 bufier wheel mountedin spaced relationship from said lower portion and in the path ofmovement of objects carried by saidcarriers, said buiier wheels beingrotatable about axes parallel to said axes of said sprockets; drivemeans for rotating said buffer wheels; means supporting each of saidbuir'er wheels for limited movement about an axis parallel to and spacedfrom its axis of rotation in the direction ofmovement of the carriersmoved therepast by said chain whereby each of said bufier wheels ismovable out of the path of movement of object carried by each carrier;and means biasing each of said wheels against movement out of the pathof movement of objects being carried therepast by said carriers, each ofsaid carriers having guide means disposed between said chain and anobject carried thereby; upper and lower guide means extending linearlyand parallel to said upper and lower portions of said predetermined pathand engageable with said carrier guide means to hold said carriersagainst displacement from said predetermined path.

5. A buffer machine including: a pair of spaced sprockets rotatableabout parallel horizontally disposed axes; means for rotating one ofsaid sprockets; a continuous chain extending about said sprockets andmovable by said one of said sprockets in a predetermined path having anupper linear portion and a lower linear portion; a plurality of spacedobject carriers secured to said chain and extending laterallyperpendicularly therefrom, each of said carriers having releasable lockmeans for rigidly securing an object thereto; a pair of buffer wheelsdisposed in spaced relationship along and spaced from said ,upperportion and inthe path of movement of objects carried by said carriers;a buffer wheel mounted in spaced relationship from said lower portionand in the path of movementof objects carried by said carriers, saidbuffer wheels being rotatable about axes parallel to said axes of aidsprockets; drive means for rotating said .bufier wheels; meanssupporting each of said buffer wheels for limited movement about an axisparallel to and spaced from its axis of rotation in the direction ofmovement of the carriers moved therepast by said chain whereby each ofsaidbulfer wheels is movable out of the path of movement of objectcarried by each carrier; and means biasing each of said wheels againstmovement out oi the path of movement of objects being carried therepastby said carriers. v

6. A butler machine including: a pair of spaced sprockets rotatableabout parallel horizontally disposed axes; means for rotating one ofsaid sprockets; a continuous chain extending about said sprockets andmovable by said one of said sprockets in a predetermined path having anupper linear portion and a lower linear portion; a plurality of spacedobject carriers secured to said chain and extending laterallyperpendicularly therefrom, each of said carriers having releasable lockmeans for rigidly securing an object thereto; a pair of buffer wheelsdisposed in spaced relationship along and spaced from said upper portionand in the path of movement of objects carried by said carriers; abutter wheel mounted in spaced relationship from said lower portion andin the path of movement of objects carried by said carriers, said bufierwheels being rotatable about axes parallel to said axes of saidsprockets; drive means for rotating said butter Wheels; means supportingeach of said buffer wheels for limited movement about an axis parallelto and spaced from its axis of rotation in the directionof movement ofthe carriers moved therepast by sai d chain whereby each of said butterwheels is movable out of the path ofmovement of object carried by eachcarrier; and means biasing each of said wheels against movement out ofthe path of movement of objects being carried therepast by saidcarriers, each of said carriers having guide means disposed between saidchain and an object carried thereby; upper and lower guide meansextending linearly and parallel to said upper and lower portions of saidpredetermined path and engage able with said carrier guide means to holdsaid carriers against displacement from said predetermined path. i i

7. A buffer machine including: a pair of spaced sprockets rotatableabout parallel horizontally disposed axes; means for rotating one ofsaid sprockets; a continuous chain extending about said sprockets andmovable by said one of said sprockets in a predetermined path having anupper linear portion and a lower linear portion; a plurality of spacedobject carriers secured to said chain and extending laterallyperpendicularly therefrom; a pair of buffer wheels disposed in spacedrelationship along and spaced from said upper portion and in the path ofmovement of objects carried by said carriers; a bulier wheel mounted inspaced relationship from said lower portion and in the path of movementof objects carried by said carriers, said butter wheels being rotatableabout axes parallel to said axes of said sprockets; drive means forrotating said butter wheels; means supporting each of said butter wheelsfor limited movement about an axis parallel to and spaced from its axisof rotation in the direction of movement of the carriers moved therepastby said chain whereby each of said buifer wheels is movable out of thepath of movement of object carried by each carrier; means biasing eachof said wheels against movement out of the path of movement of objectsbeing carried therepast by said carriers; and lock release meansengageable with said lock means of each carrier upon movement of eachcarrier past said buffer wheels for releasing an object carried therebyfor removal from the carrier.

8. A buffer machine including: a pair of spaced sprockets rotatableabout parallel horizontally disposed axes; means for rotating one ofsaid sprockets; a continuous chain extending about said sprockets andmovable by said one of said sprockets in a predetermined path having anupper linear portion and a lower linear portion; a plurality of spacedobject carriers secured to said chain andextending laterallyperpendicularly therefrom; a pair of butter wheels disposed in spacedrelationship along and spaced from said upper portion and in the path ofmovement of objects carried by said carriers; a buffer wheel mounted inspaced relationship from said lower portion and in the path of movementof objects carried by said carriers, said buffer wheels being rotatableabout axes parallel to said axes of said sprockets; drive means forrotating said butter wheels; means supporting each of said butter wheelsfor limited movement about an axis parallel to and spaced from its axisof rotation in the direction of movement of the carriers moved therepastby said chain whereby each of said butter Wheels is movable out of thepath of movement of object carried by each carrier; means biasing eachof said wheels against movement out of the path of movement of objectsbeing carried therepast by said carriers; release means engageable withsaid lock means of each carrier upon movement of each carrier past saidbuffer wheels for releasing an object carried thereby for removal fromthe carrier; and means engageable with an object carried by each carrierafter said lock release means engages said lock means for removing suchobject from the carrier.

9. A butter machine including: a pair of spaced sprockets rotatableabout parallel horizontally disposed axes; means for rotating one ofsaid sprockets; a continuous chain extending about said sprockets andmovable by said one of said sprockets in a predetermined path having anupper linear portion and a lower linear portion; a plurality of spacedobject carriers secured to said chain and extending laterallyperpendicularly therefrom, each of said carriers having a support meansrigid with said chain, a shaft rotatable relative to said support meansabout an axis parallel to said axes of said sprockets and latch meansfor holding said shaft against rotation relative to said support means;a pair of buffer wheels disposed in spaced relationship along and spacedfrom said upper portion and in the path of movement of objects carriedby said carriers; a bufier wheel mounted in spaced relationship fromsaid lower portion and in the path of movement of objects carried bysaid carriers, said buffer wheels being rotatable about axes parallel tosaid axes of said sprockets; drive means for rotating said buiierwheels; means supporting each of said butter Wheels for limited movementabout an axis parallel to and spaced from its axis of rotation in thedirection of movement of the carriers moved therepast by said chainwhereby each of said buffer wheels is movable out of the path ofmovement of object carried by each carrier; means biasing each of saidwheels against movement out of the path of movement of objects beingcarried therepast by said carriers; and means coengageable with eachcarrier for engaging said latch means to free the carrier for rotationand for rotating said shaft through a predetermined angle upon movementof said carrier past a predetermined position along said path ofmovement.

19. A carrier including: a support means securable to a carriertransporting means; a shaft rotatably mounted on said support means formovement about the longitudinal axis of said shaft; cooperable latchmeans on said support means and said shaft for releasably locking saidshaft against rotational movement in predetermined positions about itslongitudinal axis; and lock means carried by said shaft for securingthereto an object to be carried by said carrier, said latch meansincluding a latch secured intermediate its end to said shaft for pivotalmovement about an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and stopmeans on said support means engageable by said latch when said latch isin one extreme pivoted position; and means biasing said latch towardsaid one position.

11. The carrier of claim 10, said latch having means extending outwardlyof said shaft and engageable to pivot said latch to a second extremeposition wherein said latch is out of engagement with said stop meansand said shaft is free to rotate.

12. The carrier of claim 11; and means extending outwardly of said shaftand engageable by fixed means interposed in the path of movement of thecarrier for rotating said shaft through a predetermined angle when saidlatch is out of engagement with said stop means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS224,086 Guild Feb. 3, 1880 773,612 Wallace et al Nov. 1, 1904 l,727,863Clifiord Sept. 10, 1929 1,976,805 Robinson Oct. 16, 1934 2,344,476Turnbull Mar. 14, 1944 2,552,194 Lindsay et al. May 8, 1951 2,635,394Wing Apr. 21, 1953

1. A BUFFING MACHINE INCLUDING: MEANS FOR CARRYING OBJECTS TO BEPOLISHED IN A PREDETERMINED PATH; A PLURALITY OF BUFFER MEANS DISPOSEDIN SPACED RELATIONSHIP ALONG SAID PREDETERMINED PATH AND ENGAGEABLE WITHOBJECTS CARRIED BY SAID CARRYING MEANS, EACH OF SAID BUFFER MEANS BEINGMOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT A FIRST AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO THE PATH OFMOVEMENT OF OBJECTS MOVED THEREPAST BY SAID CARRYING MEANS AND FORMOVEMENT OUT OF PREDETERMINED PATH ABOUT A SECOND AXIS SPACED FROM ANDPARALLEL TO SAID FIRST AXIS; MEANS BIASING SAID BUFFER MEANS AGAINSTMOVEMENT ABOUT SAID SECOND AXIS OUT OF SAID PATH OF MOVEMENT; AND MEANSCOOPERABLE WITH SAID CARRYING MEANS FOR VARYING THE ATTITUDE OF EACHOBJECT AT PREDETERMINED LOCATIONS ALONG SAID PREDETERMINED PATH FORCAUSING DIFFERENT AREAS OF SAID OBJECTS TO BE ENGAGED AND POLISHED BYDIFFERENT ONES OF SAID BUFFER MEANS, EACH OBJECT BEING HELD AGAINSTMOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID CARRYING MEANS DURING ITS ENGAGEMENT WITH EACHOF SAID BUFFER MEANS.